Despondency is not a state of humility; on the contrary, it is the vexation and despair of a cowardly pride--nothing is worse; whether we stumble or whether we fall, we must only think of rising again and going on in our course.

How desirable is this simplicity! Who will give it to me? I will quit all else; it is the pearl of great price.

Never let us be discouraged with ourselves. It is not when we are conscious of our faults that we are the most wicked; on the contrary, we are less so. We see by a brighter light; and let us remember for our consolation, that we never perceive our sins till we begin to cure them.

The youth who, like a woman, loves to adorn his person, has renounced all claim to wisdom and to glory; glory is due to those only who dare to associate with pain, and have trampled pleasure under their feet.

Little opportunities should be improved.

It is often our own imperfection which makes us reprove the imperfection of others; a sharp-sighted self-love of others

A good historian is timeless; although he is a patriot, he will never flatter his country in any respect.